Product Description

The CS3 compresses high-input signals while boosting low-input signals, giving you smooth sustain without degrading the quality of the original sound. A range of effects from gentle compression to squeezed sounds is at your command. Designed for outstanding low-noise performance, the CS3 also provides EQ for precise sonic control.

About Boss Pedals
The history of Boss reads like the history of guitar effects. From their legendary CE-1 chorus pedal (the big gray box that started it all) to the world's favorite line of compact pedals, they've been responsible for more guitar innovations than just about anyone else.

Boss's compact pedal line-up began in 1977 with the classic OD-1 Overdrive. Its warm, smooth overdrive sounds and breakthrough Boss pedal features (heavy-duty construction, rubber pads on top and bottom, recessed control knobs, silent switching, a built-in LED, and easy battery replacement) immediately set it apart from other stomp boxes on the market. It established the masterful design for all other Boss effects pedals since.

Throughout the years, Boss has continued to define the cutting edge of guitar effects. Double-layer circuit boards allowed pedals like the DD-5 Digital Delay to deliver studio-quality effects comparable to rackmount units. They recently brought bassists and guitarists the first bass synthesizer in a compact pedal, the SYB-3. On their 20th anniversary they proudly introduced the OD-3 Overdrive, a pedal that takes the smooth, dynamic overdriven tones of the legendary OD-1 to a different level. Like all Boss products, it is a level of sound quality and durability that is unrivaled.

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"The catalyst of my sound"

Sound:
It has no sound of its own, it just brings out your guitar's tone in a simple, effective manner.
Feature:
The Sustainer aspect of this pedal performs amazingly well for the price range. At higher settings, though, you may need a noise gate at the end of your effects chain.
Ease of Use:
It's a Boss Pedal. Great quality ... easy as pie.
Quality:
Absolutely made well. I've had mine for many years and it still holds out like a tank.
Value:
It's very much worth its price. You could spend tons more on a boutique item, but you'll hear very little difference.
Manufacturer Support:
Never had to use Manufacturer Support.
The Wow Factor:
At the front of my effects chain, this thing tames the peaks while delivering smooth, amazing tone.
Overall:
Let's face facts - your sound is incomplete without compression somewhere in the mix. You could spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a several thousand dollars on rack gear and great effects, but if there's no compression in there it's like a new tire with a pin-hole leak in it. Your sound isn't airtight.This Boss pedal gives you that element in a simple, affordable package and brings it all together like the salt in your stew. And it does so amazingly well. I have two other rack compressors, but this pedal gives me a much greater mobility and versatility without compromising my sound.It really shines when you run it into your amp clean, with no other effects engaged. Just your naked guitar, neither too loud nor too soft.Beautiful!

Style of Music: My style ranges from Classical to Blues, with heavy doses of Jazz and Progressive Rock.

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"Started to hate it, but love it instead."

Overall:
I'm a novice guitar player. After watching YouTube reviews on the Boss CS-3, I decided to give one a try. It certainly wasn't love at first sight. The sound coming from my tube amp after I plugged the CS-3 in for the first time was a BIG change that took a while to get used to. The highs and lows coming from my amp were noticeably compressed, but my wildly erratic picking dynamics suddenly became more controlled as well. YouTube reviews suggest that this compressor is rather heavy-handed, but that's exactly what I needed at this juncture.Give one a try. I think you'll see why a compressor appears on the pedal boards of many, if not most, current professional guitarists. My 4.5-star rating is based solely on the fact that I've never used another compressor, so I have nothing to compare it to. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my CS-3.

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